MN SF1806

State departments, agencies, the Metropolitan Council, and certain other agencies must require businesses with more than 40 full-time employees to obtain an equal pay certificate before entering contracts exceeding $500,000.

Businesses apply for certificates by paying a $150 filing fee and submitting a compliance statement signed by a senior officer certifying compliance with federal and state equal pay laws and describing how they evaluate wages and benefits.

The commissioner must issue or deny certificates within 15 days and may suspend or revoke certificates for multiple violations or failure to make good faith efforts to ensure equal pay.

The commissioner can void contracts awarded without required certificates or when contractors fail to correct equal pay violations, though they must first show no undue hardship to the state.

Commissioner must report by January 31, 2016 to the governor and legislative committees on the number of certificates issued, audits conducted, contractor compliance processes, and auditing efforts.